Northern Borders: Strategic Investments and Sustainable Development in line with Vision 2030

His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mashiti, affirmed that the Northern Borders region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents one of the most promising strategic destinations for investment, given its unique natural and geographical advantages. This came during his active participation in the "Northern Borders Investment Forum," where he highlighted the major transformations taking place in the region's environment, water, and agriculture sectors.

Strategic importance and comprehensive developmental dimensions

The Northern Borders region is gaining increasing geopolitical and economic importance within Saudi Arabia's development plan. It is not merely a vast geographical area, but also the Kingdom's northern gateway and a vital link for trade and logistics, especially with the presence of the Arar Dry Port, which enhances trade with neighboring countries. These developments are part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources and capitalize on the comparative advantages of each region. The Northern Borders region is rich in natural resources, diverse terrain, and vast grazing lands, making it a fertile ground for investment in food security and ecotourism.

Environmental and water achievements in numbers

During the dialogue session entitled “From Orientation to Empowerment,” Engineer Al-Mashiti reviewed a range of qualitative achievements made by the Ministry in the region, which reflect a firm governmental commitment to achieving sustainable development:

• Combating desertification: Efforts have succeeded in significantly reducing the area of ​​degraded land from 167,000 hectares in 2015 to 89,000 hectares in 2023.
• Afforestation and rehabilitation: Approximately one million trees were planted, more than 60,000 hectares were rehabilitated, and 9 tons of pastoral seeds were scattered.
• Environmental investment: Work is underway to rehabilitate the “Ma’ila National Park” with a completion rate exceeding 70%, to be presented as a huge investment opportunity on an area exceeding 14 million square meters, in addition to 18 other investment opportunities.
• Water security: The water sector witnessed the implementation of projects worth more than 2.2 billion riyals, including water and sewage networks, purification plants, and raising the daily pumping capacity to reach 82,000 cubic meters.

Generous support to enhance food security and rural Saudi Arabia

In support of local communities and to empower farmers, His Excellency explained that the government has provided substantial financial support to the region, with total agricultural subsidies reaching approximately 193 million riyals. Support from the "Reef Saudi Arabia" program exceeded 186 million riyals, targeting more than 8,400 beneficiaries, a significant proportion of whom are women. Additionally, 255 million riyals in funding has been allocated to support livestock and agricultural production projects, directly contributing to enhancing local food security and creating sustainable job opportunities for the region's residents.

Economic impact and promising future

These integrated efforts aim not only to improve services but also to transform environmental challenges into economic opportunities. Investment in the Northern Borders region is now a significant contributor to the national economy and helps achieve balanced development across the Kingdom's regions. With ongoing infrastructure development and the introduction of investment opportunities in the Arar Water Tower, surrounding parks, and agricultural projects, indicators suggest the region is poised for a comprehensive development boom, positioning it as a model for sustainable environmental and agricultural investment.